Answer to Question #2698 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

I work as a full-time dental hygienist and part of my everyday schedule is taking dental radiographs. I leave the room and stand at least six feet from the area of exposure but am concerned about the secondary or scatter radiation I may be exposing my unborn child to when reentering the room. I am in my seventh month of pregnancy and so far I have been told I am healthy. My obstetrician knows I take radiographs and does not seem concerned. However, I am always worried I am receiving some radiation.

A

Dental x-ray exposures when you are standing outside the room at least six feet away do not expose your baby to any clinically significant dose of radiation. I understand your concern and I will try to explain why your anxiety and concern is not warranted in your present situation. The "scatter" that might reach your abdomen and expose the baby would be extremely small, if there was any exposure. It would not represent an increased risk for birth defects or miscarriage. The x-ray beam used for dental x rays is very focused so only the tooth or teeth are exposed to the primary beam. The most important characteristic of x rays that concerns us is the dose. You may not know that we ourselves are radioactive and we are exposed to many sources of natural radiation that we cannot avoid. Your baby does not receive a dose that would result in any measurable increased reproductive risk. If you are healthy and young and have no reproductive problems or family history of reproductive problems, your normal risk for birth defects is 3% and for miscarriage, 15%.

Kelly Classic
Certified Medical Health Physicist